The CMA Awards seemed to snub Beyonces Cowboy Carter, but Billy Ray Cyrus acknowledged it.
Billy is already a CMA holder, earning his first in 1992 for Single of the Year for his hit Achy Breaky Heart, and then again in 2019 for his collab with Lil Nas X for Old Town Road. In a recent post on Instagram, the country music legend brought attention to Beyonces country album not receiving a single nomination at this years CMAs.
“Congratulations to all CMA nominees! I’m so happy to and proud to see country music opening their doors and format to be inclusive to all people, all styles,” Cyrus wrote, noting that the award he and Lil Nas X won, Musical Event of the Year, wasn’t aired on the show.
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“I was surprised to see Beyoncé wasn’t nominated???, Billy wrote. “Her album was brilliant …her single ruled. But she knows that. She doesn’t need a trophy from the CMA … or permission … or approval from any of their judges.”
Bill ended his post quoting Muhammad Ali, writing, “When ya knock ’em out … Ya don’t need no judge.
Cowboy Carter was highly revered when it was released at the end of March, and broke records. It was the first album made by a Black woman that hit number one on the Top Country Albums Billboard chart. Additionally, the albums lead single, Texas Hold Em, was the first country song by a Black woman to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
On top of that, Beyonces country album was nominated for 11 Grammys at the 67th annual awards ceremony, which is the second most nominated album in history, coming after Michael Jacksons Thriller. Although Cowboy Carter was a critical and commercial success, the 2024 CMAs refused to nominate her for anything.
However, Beyonces feature on Cowboy Carter, Shaboozey was nominated for Best New Artist and Single of the Year for his hit song A Bar Song (Tipsy).
According to Entertainment Weekly, Some saw the exclusion of Beyoncé, after crediting the chilly reception she and The Chicks received at the 2016 CMA Awards as Cowboy Carter’s inspiration, as a purposeful snub. Not so, Dolly Parton, herself a guest on the album and an honorary member of the BeyHive.
